Layered Sunburst Capelet Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This Layered Sunburst Capelet is a soft, romantic little layer that works beautifully over a simple tee, a slip dress, or a plain blouse. It is written for the advanced beginner: if you can make a double crochet and a single crochet, you can make this capelet, because the body is one steady, repeating circle. What makes it special is the two-layer look: a smooth pale pink circle on top, a ring of mint-and-lavender sunburst lace motifs around the lower edge, and a pink openwork edging finished with a mint shell border. The result is light and airy, with a gentle drape and a pastel candy palette that feels like spring sunshine.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Aran weight wool blend, approximately 400 yards total:
  • Color A (pale pink): 200 yards
  • Color B (mint green): 100 yards
  • Color C (lavender): 100 yards
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, rust-proof blocking pins and a blocking mat
• Finished size: Neck circumference 20 inches, bottom circumference 44 inches, length 14 inches

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert the hook, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook at once.
• sc — single crochet: insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through the last two loops.
• sk — skip: leave the next stitch or space unworked.
• sp — space: the opening made by a chain, worked into rather than into a stitch.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• rep — repeat.
• [ ] — work everything inside the brackets the number of times stated after them.

Gauge

16 stitches and 8 rows in double crochet = 4 inches (10 cm). Make a small swatch in double crochet and measure it flat; if you have more stitches than 16 in 4 inches, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down one.

Tips Before You Start

• Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round. The top circle is worked in a continuous spiral of joined rounds, and the marker keeps your increases lined up.
• Keep your tension relaxed on the chain spaces in the motifs and edging. Loose chains give the lace its open, sunburst look; tight chains make the capelet stiff.
• Make all 12 motifs before you begin attaching them, and lay them out around the pink circle first so you can space them evenly.
• The top circle must stay flat. If it starts to cup or ruffle, check that you are working the increase in the correct stitch each round.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Top Circle (Color A)

Set-up: Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.

R1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (12 dc).

R2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, join (24 dc).

R3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc in next st; rep from * around, join (36 dc).

R4: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join (48 dc).

R5: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts; rep from * around, join (60 dc).

R6: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 4 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts; rep from * around, join (72 dc).

R7: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 5 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts; rep from * around, join (84 dc).

R8: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 6 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts; rep from * around, join (96 dc).

R9: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 7 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts; rep from * around, join (108 dc).

R10: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 8 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts; rep from * around, join (120 dc).

R11: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 9 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 9 sts; rep from * around, join (132 dc).

R12: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 10 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts; rep from * around, join (144 dc).

Fasten off.

Sunburst Motif (make 12, Colors B and C)

Work 6 motifs starting in B and finishing in C, then repeat for the remaining 6.

Set-up: With B, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.

R1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (12 dc).

R2: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sk next st, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (6 ch-3 sps).

R3: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, *ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (18 dc, 6 ch-2 sps).

R4: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 4, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (6 ch-4 sps).

Change to C.

R5: Sl st in first ch-4 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, *ch 2, 4 dc in next ch-4 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (24 dc, 6 ch-2 sps).

R6: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 5, sk next 3 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (6 ch-5 sps).

Fasten off.

Attach Motifs to Top Circle

Pin the 12 motifs evenly around R12 of the top circle, with one point of each motif touching the edge. Using A, join the motifs to the top circle by working sc in each st and ch of the motif edge and the corresponding st of the top circle, keeping the motifs spaced evenly (approximately every 12 sts).

Lower Edging (Color A)

R13: With A, join yarn at any st of top circle R12, ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (48 ch-3 sps).

R14: Sl st in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in same sp, *ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (144 dc, 48 ch-1 sps).

R15: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 2, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (48 ch-2 sps).

Fasten off.

Shell Edging (Color B)

R16: Join B at any ch-2 sp of R15, ch 1, sc in same sp, *sk next ch-2 sp, 5 dc in next ch-2 sp, sk next ch-2 sp, sc in next ch-2 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to first sc (12 shells).

Fasten off.

Neck Edging (Color A)

Join A at the neck edge (R1), ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to first sc (12 sc).

Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, threading each tail through a few stitches before trimming. Check that the motif joins are secure and that no chain spaces are twisted. Block lightly to measurements: mist the capelet, pin the neck edge to 20 inches and the bottom edge to 44 inches, spreading the shell border and motifs flat, then let it dry completely before removing the pins.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the pastel palette for a single color family — for example, three shades of one color — for a more subtle, tonal capelet.
• Add a small button and loop at the neck edge if you prefer a closed neckline instead of an open one.
• For a longer, drapier version, work two extra increase rounds on the top circle before attaching the motifs, and add one more repeat of the lower edging.